Demolition permits in Montréal, the full process
The demolition itself takes a few days. The authorisation can take months. That gap surprises owners the most, and it is almost always what derails a rebuild schedule. Here is how the process actually works.
City hall is not the one deciding
In Montréal the demolition authorisation certificate is not issued by city hall but by the borough where the building stands. Each borough has its own planning department, its own assessment framework and its own timelines. That is the first source of confusion, and it costs time when you file in the wrong place.
In practice it means a developer running two projects, one in Rosemont and one in Ahuntsic, will have two different files to prepare, with requirements that do not fully overlap.
The demolition review committee
For a principal building, the application may go before a committee tasked with reviewing demolition requests. That committee assesses the condition of the building, its heritage and architectural value, the impact on the neighbourhood and the quality of the replacement project.
It is that last point many owners discover too late. In several cases you cannot simply ask to demolish, you have to present what will be built in its place. A lot left empty with no project is a frequent reason for refusal.
When a committee is convened, expect several extra weeks, sometimes several months, between filing and decision. A public notice is generally posted on the building and a period allows citizens to respond.
The documents to prepare
A typical file includes the borough form, proof of ownership, a description of the building with photographs, a site plan, the planned demolition method, debris management and the replacement project where required.
Contractor insurance and licence evidence are almost always added, along with the hazardous materials characterisation report. That last point is worth anticipating, because laboratory analysis itself takes several days.
Disconnections, to trigger early
Before any demolition, electricity, gas, water and sewer must be cut and capped by the relevant utilities. Those steps run in parallel with the permit and have their own timelines, which are not negligible.
It is a frequent chain of delays. The permit arrives, but the gas is not cut, so the job cannot start. Triggering disconnections at the same time as filing the permit avoids that blockage.
Outside Montréal, a single authority
In Laval, Longueuil, Brossard, Boucherville, Terrebonne or Repentigny, the process goes through the city's planning department, with one procedure for the whole territory. It is generally simpler than in Montréal, where you first have to identify the right borough.
Watch for one frequent special case. Saint-Hubert and Greenfield Park are part of Ville de Longueuil, so the application is filed with Longueuil rather than a separate local administration.
Frequently asked questions
For an accessory structure the process is generally lighter than for a principal building, but an authorisation certificate is still usually required. Rules vary by borough and municipality, so check before starting.
Yes. We prepare the file, submit it to the right authority and follow the application through to issue. We also coordinate disconnections with the utilities so everything is ready on start day.
Without a committee, generally allow a few weeks between filing and issue. With a committee, several months are possible. The demolition itself, once everything is in place, takes three to seven working days for a single family house.
